Detroit Pistons: GM search moving slowly

The Detroit Pistons are in search for a new general manager following Joe Dumars resignation. The former Detroit “Bad Boy” spent 14 years as the Pistons president of basketball operations.

Detroit hired Jed Hughes, a representative of national search firm Korn Ferry, to assist in the Pistons’ GM search. Hughes’ services were retained for the same reasons last summer by the Toronto Raptors, eventually leading to the hiring of general manager Masai Ujiri.

Filling the GM position with the right guy is more important to the franchise than making a hire before the artificial deadline of the NBA draft (June 26) and the start of free agency (July 1).

Pistons assistant GM George David and Director of basketball operations Ken Catanella will head Detroit’s draft process until a hire is made.

As for the candidates, there are many names that have been mentioned but the team is yet to schedule any interviews.

Here are some names that have been connected to the job:

Detroit Free Press rumors (courtesy of Vince Ellis)

Current Pistons executives George David and Ken Catanella

Bryan Colangelo, former Raptors GM

Michael Zarren, Boston Celtics assistant GM

Travis Schlenk, Golden State Warriors assistant GM

Scott Perry, Orlando Magic assistant GM (former Pistons executive)

Former Pistons players

Chauncey Billups

Grant Hill

Jon Barry

MLive rumors (courtesy of David Mayo)

David Morway, former Indiana Pacers GM

Gersson Rosas, Houston Rockets executive vice president

Gary Sacks, Los Angeles Clippers GM

Troy Weaver, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant GM/vice president

Jeff Weltman, Raptors executive vice president

Michael Winger, OKC Thunder assistant GM/legal & administration

Detroit is clearly in the early stages of their GM search and many names will continue to surface as possible replacements for Dumars.

Whoever lands the job will have to do some roster reshaping along with bringing in a new head coach.

The roster concerns begin with the expiring contracts of Greg Monroe and Rodney Stuckey and include the inability of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings to consistently coexist, in terms of winning and individual production.

Whether the position is filled or not, the NBA draft lottery will be held on May 20. The Pistons have the eighth-best odds at receiving the first overall pick (3.5%).

There’s much to be done before having any realistic idea of how Detroit will address the draft, but that won’t slow down the production of mock drafts.

Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report has Detroit selecting small forward Doug McDermott from Creighton and Draft Express has the Pistons taking Arizona power forward Aaron Gordon in the first round then Florida big-man Patric Young in the second.

As the GM search continues, follow us on Twitter and check out our Detroit Pistons team page for more news, rumors, and opinion

About Jordan Johnson

I graduated from Central Michigan University with Sport Management degree. Following sports is not only a hobby of mine but it has become a passion. In addition to Detroit's four professional sports teams, I also cover Michigan Football for isportsweb